Fishing at Little John Lake, Thunder Bay District, Ontario

• Overview

  Look for Little John Lake in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The surroundings are northern bush. Around 30 hectares of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 2.9 km all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Greenstone, is 61 km away. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 207 km distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Little John Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Thunder Bay District records list cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Little John Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is -20°C to 16°C. Open water is the exception rather than the rule here. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages place the thaw at early May and the freeze at mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Expect Little John Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Keep the gear simple: light line, small hooks, split shot and a couple of proven lures. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. East Stewart Lake at 5.2 km is the sensible second choice. Signs at Little John Lake carry more weight than any list.